Found Object Poetry

Found Object Poetry

April is National Poetry Month! Hopefully you are all able to get those creative juices flowing and string together some beautiful words.

To encourage you all in that endeavor, on April 9 at 4 p.m., children ages 7-12 are invited to come to the library and find an object lying around the library (something ordinary or something hidden especially for the event) and write a poem about the object. We'd really love to see you all come out. In the meantime, read on to learn about some other great resources and information for and about poetry.

Poetry, believed to pre-date literacy, is suggested as having been a means of memorization of the Indian vedas (1700-1200 B.C.). So, poetry has been around for a very long time. The word poetry, of Greek origin, shows that our understanding of poems and poetic language arises in a specifically Western context. But, there are very different approaches to poetry that have been present all over the world; the differences are evident when considering the poetics of China, Japan, Greece, etc.

It is suggested that the oldest surviving poem is the Epic of Gilgamesh, from the third millennium in Sumer. Today, the different discussions about poetry come down to its use of language, both in form and substance.

Adults, if you are interested in poetry, you should check out this great resource available online.

For all of the awesome kids interested in poems, have fun and play around on Shel Silverstein's website or head over to the children's poetry archive. And, don't forget the great resources we have available at DC Public Library!

Join us for our great poetry program and enjoy this open source poem by Robert Frost (just in time to celebrate the start of Spring):

A PATCH OF OLD SNOWThere’s a patch of old snow in a cornerThat I should have guessedWas a blow-away paper the rainHad brought to rest.

It is speckled with grime as ifSmall print overspread it,The news of a day I’ve forgotten––If I ever read it.